In the next few days or weeks when Clark Hunt hires a general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs, his first major decision as chairman of the board will have far-reaching consequences for more than just the franchise that Lamar Hunt founded half a century ago.

At the same time, the younger Hunt will be establishing his own credentials as a viable member of that tough and exclusive club called the ownership of the National Football League.

Can Lamar Hunt's 43-year-old son match wits with the Lerners and Rooneys? Hold his own with the Maras, Snyders and Krafts? Keep up with the Joneses?

People who know the studious-looking Texan say not to worry.

"Believe me, he is up to the job. The apple did not fall far from the tree," said Carl Peterson, who resigned last month after 20 years as the Chiefs' president, general manager and CEO. "Clark is one of the brightest and most capable men I ever met.

"Lamar knew exactly what he was doing when he began grooming Clark to take over the Chiefs."

According to two people close to the situation, Hunt was to speak on Monday with Scott Pioli, the vice president for player personnel of the New England Patriots, who is also being courted by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner.

Jonathan Kraft, son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, is a close friend of Hunt, and could be in position to provide extra insight into Pioli. But Pioli is not alone on the list. Hunt is certain to be patient and thorough, and probably is going to be on the lookout for someone in his own age group.

Chiefs fans don't know a great deal about the man who has taken charge of their team's destiny. Much like his father, Clark Hunt does not live in Kansas City and tends to shun attention more than crave it.

They know he was born to fabulous wealth. He, his sister and two brothers were equal heirs to a vast estate that includes holdings in oil, real estate and financial service companies in addition to the Chiefs and other sports properties.

They know he's been unfailingly polite, respectful and engaging in all his public appearances.

Many know that his main residence is in Dallas and that he met his wife when she worked part-time in the Chiefs pressbox.

A few know that Hunt graduated No. 1 in his class at Southern Methodist University and early in his career worked at Goldman-Sachs in New York.

Nobody doubts that he's smart - very smart. Now, fans are going to find out if he has the intuitive insight and willingness to take a risk that all great managers possess.

Leadership, in spite of his low-key demeanor, has seemed to be a natural attribute. Teammates voted him captain of his college soccer team, and from an early age his family began looking to him as a future star and spokesman for the prominent Dallas clan.

Several years ago, the elder Hunt began "pulling Clark into" the NFL orbit, as one family acquaintance puts it. He began accompanying his father to league meetings and helped make Kansas City's successful presentation to host a Super Bowl pending the addition of a retractable roof on Arrowhead Stadium.

"The first time I was in that room by myself, it was a little bit scary," Hunt once said in an interview with The Associated Press. "There's nothing that prepares you to walk into an NFL owners meeting and get up for the first time and speak. It's pretty intimidating."

Hunt was also on the owners committee that eventually settled on Roger Goodell as Paul Tagliabue's replacement as commissioner. By coincidence, he and Goodell share the same birthday and the two exchange greetings every Feb. 19 in what's become something of a private joke between them.

He helped run the Columbus team that won last year's Major League Soccer championship, and has about 500 people working directly for him.

He's also been heavily involved in the massive $375 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium, $125 million of which is being paid for by the Hunt family.

But hiring a general manager for a team that's only 6-26 the past two years will be Hunt's first major challenge as boss of the Chiefs. He's also reserving for himself final word on whether coach Herm Edwards and his staff are retained.

It's a critical time for the franchise. The wrong decision in this challenging economic era could lead to big trouble if the renovated and practically new stadium is not full every game day. Tens of thousands of empty seats in the final games during this 2-14 campaign of 2008 proved that Chiefs fans do not have inexhaustible patience.